Influencing factors on regional differences in glyphosate use in North German arable farming
Andert, Sabine | Bürger, Jana | Gerowitt, Bärbel
Glyphosate is the worldwide mostly used herbicide substance. Glyphosate use in arable cropping is under strong discussion in scientific and public communities. In the present study, we investigated the use of glyphosate from 15 farms in four districts in North German arable farming from 2005 until 2014. Objective of our research is to reveal influencing factors on glyphosate use intensity. The farm structures differ between two West districts (Diepholz, Uelzen) and two East districts (Fläming, Oder-Spree). We used the Standardised Treatment Index (STI) to quantify pesticide use intensity. We used multiple regressions to estimate the relationship between farm characteristics and glyphosate use. Glyphosate use intensity differs substantially between the study districts and crops. Farmers in the Eastern districts (Fläming and Oder-Spree) used significantly larger amounts of glyphosate. We further proved that the variability of glyphosate use was mainly influenced by the factor “Farm”. Moreover, we could show that glyphosate use is significantly influenced by the factors tillage, farm type, farm size and on-farm labour. Non-inversion tillage and glyphosate use co-incidences mainly on large farms in the East German districts. Hence, we conclude that these farms either regionally adapt their cropping systems due to climatic reasons or for economic profit.
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